Regiments and Frontages – How Much Space Did a Battle Line Actually Take up?
American Civil War enthusiasts have been debating frontages for many decades, and the answer that would be correct most of the time would be, “whatever space they need to occupy for the mission at hand.” By dropping companies into reserve, a regiment could compress or by going into a single line the regiment could extend. However, how long would a “text book” double rank battle line actually be?
In a postwar experiment, Cadet Captain B. Allison Colona of VMI, using the VMI cadets formed up regulation battle lines from 10 men to 1,000 men and measured how long each was and recorded those distance along with his detailed survey of the New Market battlefield. His actual notes are reproduced below and being a senior engineering student, Cadet Captain Colona noted how long these lines would be in a precise map scale of 4” equal one mile. However, once the command of, “fire at will” was given all those neat double lines would almost certainly simply disintegrate into a ragged scramble of men simply trying to load and fire as fast as they could. – John Hill
Men in two ranks – scale of fronts. The original can be downloaded from the Library of Congress.
4 responses to “ACW Frontages”
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Having been in one of those battle lines many times in both small and large battles, I feel qualified to comment. 3 feet per man is not a bad number but I disagree that the organization would fall apart when firing commenced. Most firing is done in a controlled manner by officer’s orders and 2 rank firing demands that soldiers keep their place in line otherwise the back row shooters would not be able to take a safe shot. A disorganized line would result in percussion caps and muzzle blasts being in people’s ears and in real life, friendly fire casualties ( a major problem in Napoleonic 3 and 4 rank firing). The reason they lined them up in nice neat double lines is so the maximum firepower can be applied across a condensed front with every man being in a clear shooting position. Also maneuver happens frequently in a battle and changing formations with a disorganized line is very difficult. It is the job of the corporals (all in the front rank) and the sergeants (just behind the firing line) to maintain that order at all times.
retired army & 20 year civil war re-enactment & board gaming 50+ years. in Veteran units in the civil war the lines were maintained. This is shown by the lines of dead in so many battles. Neatly on the ground as if in formation. Melee & rough terrain obviously disorganized the lines. So 1,000 men in 2 ranks = 500 front line in 10 companies subtract 100 for file closer = 400 man front. 3 feet per soldier = 1,200 feet (1/4 mile is 1,320 feet). Allow so space between companies. Frontage for 1,000 men 2 ranks is 1/4 mile. Understand that most Veteran regiments fought at 50% strength or less. Union would not rebuild so a unit like 20 Maine at little round top had 300 men.